-1.08(-1.50%)

+15.00(+1.16%)

+0.30(+1.80%)

+0.00(+0.22%)

Employment Of Women In Film Production Dips Below 1998 Levels

The ranks of women working in film production have barely budged and even declined in some key areas over the past 16 years, according to a study released today.

The annual “Celluloid Ceiling” survey of employment in the top-grossing 250 domestic pics found that overall employment for women in 2013 came in at 16%, down 2% from the previous year and down 1% from 1998 levels.

The report was released Tuesday by Martha Lauzen, exec director of the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State U. This year’s edition also tracked stats for women in below-the-line and vfx jobs, where the picture is similarly stagnant.

“The film industry is in a state of gender inertia. There is no evidence to suggest that women’s employment has improved in key behind-the-scenes roles over the last 16 years,” Lauzen said.

In total, women accounted for 16% of the 2,938 people employed on the pics surveyed. The largest share of female employment came as producers, editors and production designers. Women were most likely to work in drama, comedy, and documentary films, and least likely to work in animation, sci-fi and horror titles.